Does your heart seem to race or beat “funny”? It could be one of the most common heart rhythm disorders – atrial fibrillation.
“And that can be fixed,” says Dr. Mohamad C. Sinno, a Cardiologist specializing in cardiovascular disease and cardiac electrophysiology at the Florence Wormwald Heart and Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth.
What is AFib?
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a common heart rhythm disorder affecting the heart’s upper chambers (atria). When this happens, the atria can’t effectively pump blood into the ventricles, causing blood to pool in the atria. AFib can lead to potentially life-threatening blood clots and increase your risk for stroke and, if not adequately managed, lead to heart failure.
With AFib, there might not be any symptoms. However, you might experience palpitations or the feeling that your heart is racing. Usually, people with AFib report fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain or dizziness. The condition can strike those with high blood pressure, a history of heart, lung disease, or sleep apnea. Less often, it can strike a healthy, active person.
Get the Facts on AFib
Here’s what you need to know about AFib:
- It’s the most common heart rhythm problem in the U.S. in people older than 40.
- The top chambers of the heart quiver instead of beat.
- There may be no symptoms.
- It can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.
- It can be treated with medicine or surgery.
Some heart rhythm irregularities don’t require treatment. “If someone is living life fine, there’s no reason to intervene with a procedure, but we monitor their health,” says Sinno. But when symptoms of chest pain or shortness of breath appear, doctors recommend treatment.
Treating AFib
Medications are often the first treatment approach and can help reduce the risk of blood clots that can cause a stroke. Some medications are also used to treat the heart rate or rhythm. Treating AFib with medication offers about a 30% success rate, according to Sinno. Some people may experience medication side effects such as joint pain, headaches and an increased risk of bleeding. If your doctor prescribes AFib medicine, it’s important to take it as directed and to keep taking it unless instructed otherwise by your provider.
Cardiac electrophysiologists also treat AFib by performing a catheter ablation, a minimally invasive procedure with a 70-80% success rate. During an ablation, the electrophysiologist will either use cryoballoon ablation (freezing energy that destroys the heart tissue causing irregular heartbeats) or radiofrequency ablation (heat energy that destroys the abnormal electrical pathways). “Most patients can go home the same or next day after the procedure,” said Sinno.
If you have chronic AFib that won’t go away after multiple ablations, your physician may recommend a pacemaker and AV node ablation to regulate your pulse permanently.
Get the Care You Need
If you’re experiencing changes in how your heart feels, seek care now from the experienced cardiology team at St. Elizabeth.
